Seeking to calm residents after recent shootings, one of which turned deadly, Canton officials discussed plans Friday to “clean up” the area where the violence occurred.
“That’s not the norm here in Canton,” police Chief Mark Mitchell said at a news conference. “We’re working hard to make sure this activity quiets down.”
On June 25, a shooting between two groups in the Crisler Street area left two people dead, police said. Three people, including a brother of one of the victims, have been charged with felony murder in connection with the incident. Police say more arrests are possible, and that people involved in the incident knew each other.
Also, three people were charged with aggravated assault Tuesday after shots were reported fired from an SUV in the same area, according to police.
Canton Police promise to clean up high crime area around this park. 4pm pic.twitter.com/ms02CtRnBv
— Berndt Petersen (@BPetersenWSB) July 14, 2017
Authorities are investigating whether the incidents are linked, and they also want to rid the area of such activity.
“This is really not Canton,” Mayor Gene Hobgood said at the news conference.
“As we have grown over the last few years, we’ve had some unsavory characters come into the community.”
The city is responding by increasing police patrols near the three churches in the area, Mitchell said.
City Manager Billy Peppers said $50,000 will be spent on improvements to Burge Park, which is in the area where the shootings happened, and other parks in Canton. The money will go for such items as playground equipment as well as surveillance cameras.
“Areas where people walk around ... individuals who are doing things that are against the law are going to shy away from those areas,” Peppers said.
“We really want to clean up the area.”
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